Check-writer



G. W. GOET1ING.

CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED 'AUG.14, 1919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

e. w. GOETTING.

CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-14,1919.

jzaenfar" G. W. GOETTING.

CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l4, 1919.

Patenmd Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"j, llllhh.

Inn

G. W. GOE'TTING.

Patented Nov. 9, 19 20.

4; SHEETS-SHEET 4.

El g m m F Q Um m m "m w w w w w". w @QXHTM GEORGE W. GOETTING, OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA.

canon-warran I Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Nov 9, 1920 Application filed August 14, 1918. Serial No. 817,428.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Gon'r'rmo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Olmsted and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ChecklVriters, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to cheek-Writers and its primary object is to produce a check writer which will be simple in construction,

cheap to manufacture, accurate and efficient 'lra vertical plane passing through the printin operation and by means of which a check embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showin" the mechanism lying below the keys;

iig. 3 is an end elevation looking at the ri ht hand end of the machine shown in F1 1 and 2;

ig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the machine; I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on will be written or printed in such a manner mg cylinders; and

that it will be adequately protected against I 1m roved machine.

unauthorized raising.

Another object ofthis invention is'toz'p'rovide a check writer having a: series of p!'1I1l]-- ing cylinders with mechanism? by which ,the

cylinders will be speedily and accurately moved into printing position to present the desired printing characters in opposition to the platen by movement of a handle in one direction and which will be automatically restored to a neutral position upon movement of said handle in the opposite direction.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel and effective mechanism for moving each of the printing cylinders from a common moving member and the provision also of improved mechanism by which the extent of movement of each cylinder may be variably regulated and controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel printing characters on each cylinder which will lacerate the paper check so that the characters and figures printed thereby cannot be raised or changed, and also to provide a platen and novel mechanism for actuating the same whereby the platen is brought into cooperative or printing relation with the printing characters at the proper time.

Other objects of my invention and many of its inherent advantages will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference tothe following description when considered in connection with ig. 6 illustrates a check written by my y reference to the drawings, it will be tially a rectangular frame or box consisting of the front and back walls 7 and 8, end walls 9 and 11, bottom 12 and top plate 13. \Vithin this box-like structure is mounted the operating mechanism of the machine with the exception of the keys designated generally by reference character 14 which project above the top 13 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring first to the printing cylinder mechanism, it will be observed that near the front wall 7 of the main frame there is rotatably mounted a longitudinally extending shaft 15. Upon this shaft preferably in contiguous relation to each other, are mounted a plurality ofprinting cylinders indicated by reference characters 16, 17, 18,

19, 21 and 22 respectively, which cylinders are maintained in position longitudinally of the shaft by a collar 23 secured to the shaft by a set screw 24. The shaft 15 is preferably made of fibrous material, or it may be made of metal covered with a composition which will afford considerable resistance or friction between itself and the uniform distance, this frictional connection is employed, which, when any cylinder is held against further rotation, will permit a slippage between such cylinder and the rtating shaft. To insure the desired friction between the cylinders and the shaft, I have provided a strong resistance between each of such friction connection is illustrated in cylinder and the shaft. One preferred form shaft. These blocks are also preferably made of frictional material so that adequate frictional resistance between the shaft and each cylinder is afforded to insure rotation of the cylinders with the shaft when the, cylinders are free to move therewith. Other means for insuring this desired friction such, for instance, as fiat springs, might be utilized, ifpreferred.

Each of the printing cylinders is provided on an arc of its periphery with suitable printing characters. Cylinder 16, for instance, is adapted to print one hundred, two hundred, etc., up to nine hundred; cylinder 17 prints eleven to nineteen inclusive, cylinder 18 prints ten to ninety inclusive, cylinder 19 prints one to n ne inclusive; cylinder 21 prints the words Dollars followed by figures 1 to 9 inclusive;

and cylinder 22 prints figures 1 to 9 inelusive followed by the word Cents. Each cylinder therefore carries nine lines of printing characters and each cylinder also carries a tenth line which simply prints a series of $signs, so that if any particular cylinder is not utilized in printing the corresponding space on the check beneath this cylinder will bear these signs. The lines of printing characters are indicated generally in Figs.2 and 4 by reference character 27.

The printing cylinders are shown in neutral position in Figs. 2 and 4, and to dispose the printing characters in printing position directly beneath the vertical axis 'of the shaft 15 the cylinders are rotated in a counterclockwise direction (viewed in Fig. 4) by "means of a handle 28 carried by an arm 29 I fixed on the shaft 31 extending longitudinally of the machine, through a train of gears consisting of a gear wheel 32 on the shaft 31, an idler 33 and a gear wheel 34 on the shaft lo. The handle 28 is pulled toward the operator, or in other words, swung in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed in Fig. three-eighths of a turn in order to accomplish this result. The train of gears is so proportioned that a three-eighths turn of the shaft 31 imparts approximately threequarters of a turn to the shaft 15 and the printing cylinders would therefore all be i turned three-quarters of a revolution at each actuation of the handle if provision were not made to limit their rotating movement. The periphery of each cylinder is provided near one end therefore with a groove 35 (Fig. 4) the ends of which groove form abutment shoulders 36 and 37. In each of these grooves there is disposed a fixed stop 38 carried by a bar 39, these bars being supported at each end upon rods 41 and 42 respectively, extending longitudinally of the machine. Upon movement of the handle 28 to the left therefore the cylinders will all rotate in a counter-clockwise direction with the shaft '15, and if the movement is not limited by the key actuated stops which will be later explained, each cylinder will rotate until its shoulder 37 engages its stop 38 whereby its rotating movement will be arrested. Each of the cylinders when arrested by the stop 38 will have its line of signs disposed in printing position so that if a check were printed with the cylinders in this position nothing but a-row of signs would appear thereon.

In order to bring the desired line of printing characters on each cylinder into position so that the desired data will be printed on the check, I have provided mechanism by which the rotating movement of each cylinder may be arrested in any desired position. This mechanism consists of a plurality of rows of keys 14 disposed above the respective printing cylinders, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of these keys is mounted upon a bar 43 pivoted at its forward end upon the rod 42 and each bar carries at its rear end a downwardly depending shoulder 44. The periphery of each cylinder is cut away throughout a portion of its surface so as to leave a series of abutments or stops on each cylinder indicated on Figs. 2 and 4 by reference charac ters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, 2', y. Should it be desired to print with cylinder 21 Dollars 3 as in printing the check illustrated in Fig. 6, for instance, key numbered 6 in the fifth row would be depressed and its shoulder 44 would'thereby be disposed in the path of the shoulder f on cylinder 21. Upon rotation of the cylinder in a counter-clockwise direction engagement of the shoulder f with the shoulder 44 would stop this cylinder with the desired characters in printing position. The shaft 15, however, would continue its full stroke, imparted to it from the 'handle 28, since the frictional connection rotate until arrested by its shoulder 37 in which position it would print merely the signs. It might be mentioned at this point that cylinder 22 has one extra shoulder, one extra line of printing consisting of'zero followed by the word cents and an extra key indicated in Fig. 1, reference character 45, which key carries a. zero. This cylinder therefore has ten stops or shoulders and ten lines of printing characters, while the other cylinders have nine shoulders and ten lines of printing characters, the last line on each of these cylinders consisting merely of s1 ns.

t will be manifest \fiom' Fig. 4' that the stops 37 on the various cylinders will be brought into engagement with their respective stop 38 to arrest further movement of the cylinders before the shaft 15 has completed a three-quarter turn. Additional movement of this shaft after movement of the cylinders has ceased is utilized to perform the printing'operation. The platen in this machine consists of a flat platen 46 pivoted at its rear end upon a rod 47 and normally held down at its forward end-by a tractile spring 48 against the surface of a cam 49 mounted upon a shaft 51 whichis driven from the shaft '15 through a gear 52 on the shaft 15, meshing with a gear 53 on the shaft 51. The front wall 7 is provided with an elongated slot or opening 54 through which a check shovgn'in dotted lines and indicated by 55 may be inserted into the machine between the platen 46 and "the printing cylinders.

A pair of adjustable stops 56 on thplaten serve to limit the insertion of the check and the adjustability of these slots permitsthe machine to be acconifriodated to checks 'of different dimensions, and when the stops are adjusted for a check of a predetermined size the line upon which the printing, is to appear will always be disposed in proper position beneath the cylinders when the top edge of the check is abuttedagainst'the stops 56.

After the check has been positioned as just explained, the handle is swungto the left (viewed in Fig. 3) as previously explained, bringing the printing cylinders into proper printing relation. After the cylinders have all been stopped in their rotation so that they are standing still, continued movement ofthe shaft 15 brings the high part of the cam 49 beneath the platen and pushes the platen upwardly forciblyagainst the printing characters on the cylinders. thus effecting theprinting operation. Upon return movement of the handle the printing cylinders begin to rotatein a clockwise direction as soon as the pressure of the platen is initially released, and this movement serves to throw the check out of the machine. As return movement of the handle continues, the platen is lowered and all of the cylinders are turned in a clockwise direction until forate the paper of the check and deposit theink in these perforations so that the alteration of the check is obviated, since the texture of the paperis considerably lacerated by the multiplicity of dots from which the printing characters are made up. In order to facilitate the laceration of the check, the upper surface of the platen is also referably knurled or roughened; I

In is applied to the printing characters at each actuation of the cylinders by an ink roll 57 rotatably mounted just forwardly of the cylinders and in contact therewith, as best shown in Fig. 4. Ink may be applied to this roll in an preferred manner, and if desirable an ink ountain of any well known or preferred construction may be applied to the machine. 1

In order to restore the keys to normal position after each printing operation, I have provided a restoring mechanism consisting of a bar 58 extending longitudinally of the machine just beneath the bars '43 and piv- Ot'edjnear the extremity of each of its forwardly turned ends-upon a bolt 59. 'Downheld in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the cooperative action of a stop 66 and a tractile spring 67. Upon movement of the shaft 31 in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed in Figs. 3 and 4), the dog 63 as its extremity engages the end of the finger 62, will swing upon its pivot against the force of the spring 67 and thus pass the finger. Upon reverse restoring movement of the shaft 31, however, this dog will engage beneath and elevate the finger 62, thus raising the bar 58 beneath the depressed bars 43, thereby lifting all of these bars and restoring them to normal position. Since the bars 43 are made of relatively'light material and are mounted on the rod 42 between resilient spacing elements 68, the friction between handle 28 is then swung forwardly from its normal position. which movement through the gear train rotates the shaft 15 carrying with it the printing cylinders which con- 'tinue: their rotationuntil" stopped by a I Shoulder 44 of a depressed key 14 or by the fixed 'stop 38. During therotatin g move ment ofthe cylinders theink is applied to the printing characters and after the cylin ders have been stopped the platen is lifted 'by the cam 49 to perform the printing opsition, The frictional connectionsbetween the variousv printing cylinders and the shaft 15 permit the operation of all the cylinders from a single shaft and insure that these cylinders will be disposed in proper printing position.

- .Itis believed that my invention in one of its preferred forms will be understood and many of its advantages appreciated from the foregoing without further description, butit should be manifest that the invention is not limited by the details of construction shown and described but is capable of considerable modification and variation without departing fr'om the essence of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim: g

1. In a, check writer, the combination of awcylinder shaft, a. plurality of printing cylinders co-axially mounted upon said shaft and friction'ally connected therewith, each of said. cylinders being provided onits periphery with a series of printing characters and'a series of stops, a power shaft,

. driving connection between said power shaft and said cylinder shaft, stationary means for limiting the rotation in each direction of each of said cylinders with said cylinder shaft, a series of pivotally mounted keys disposedabove each of said printing cylinde1s,said keys being equipped with shoulders, all disposed in a common radial plane and adapted to be depressed into the path of movement of said stops .on said cylinders to limit the-rotative movement ofsaid cylinders with said cylinder shaft, and means actuated from said power shaft for. restoring all of said keys to normal position.

2. In a check writer, the combination of a cylinder shaft, a plurality of printing cylinders mounted thereon and frictionally connected therewith, each cylinder being provided upon its periphery with a series of printing characters and a series of stops. a

. group of keys pivotally mounted above each of said cylinders, each key being provided with a depending shoulder, and all of said shoulders being disposed in a plane extending longitudinally of the axis of said shaft, a power shaft, driving connecti ns. between said" power'shaft and said cylinder shaft, key restoring mechanism adapted to be ac tuated from said'power shaft, and a platen cooperating with said printing cylinders.

3. In a check writer, the combination of a cylinder shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted thereon, a frictional driving connection between said shaft and each of said cylinders, a series of stops arranged upon the periphery of each of said cylinders, a

connections between said power shaft and said cylinder shaft, a platen, a platen actuating shaft, and driving connections between said platen actuating shaft and'said cylinder shaft whereby said platen is actuated after said cylinders have completed their movement with said cylinder shaft.

4. In a check writer, the combination of a cylinder shaft, a plurality of printing cylinders mounted thereon and frictionally connected thereto, a series ofstops disposed upon the periphery of each of said cylinders, a series of keys for each of said cylinders provided with shoulders adapted to be engaged by said stops, said shoulders being arranged in alinement longitudinally of said shaft, a power shaft, driving connections between said power shaft and said cylinder shaft, and means actuated by said power shaft for restoring said keys to normal position with their; shoulders outside the path of movement of said stops.

5. In a check writer, the combination of a rectangular frame, a power shaft extending longitudinally of said frame and near one side thereof, a cylinder shaft mounted in said frame parallel with said power shaft and at the opposite side of said frame, a plurality of printing cylinders frictionally mounted on said cylinder shaft, each cylinder being provided withcircumferential printing characters and circumferentially disposed stops, a series of key members pivotally mounted above said power shaft and extending over each of said cylinders, each key member being provided with a depending shoulder, a key mounted on each key member and projecting above the top of said frame. driving connections between said power shaft and said cylinder shaft, a pivotally mounted key restoring device, and means mounted on said power shaft for actuating said restoring device upon movement of said power shaft in one direction a shaft, a plurality of printing cylinders.

mounted thereon, means including a spring for frictionally connecting said cylinders to said shaft, a series of stepped shoulders on each cylinder, a series of key actuated stops adapted to be projected into the paths of said shoulders on each cylinder, an operating handle, a platen, a cam for actuating said platen, a key restorin device, and connections between said han le and said mechanisms whereby upon movement of the handle in one direction, the (printing cylinders 10 are moved into the desire printing relation and the platen is then moved into printing position and, upon reverse movement of the handle, the platen, cylinders, and key actuated stops are all restored to normal posi- 16 tion.

GEORGE W. GOETTING. 

